The decks of Clearwater are transformed into a sailing laboratory where crew lead students through inquiry-based exploration of the Hudson River using the scientific method. In-class work lays the foundation for students to complete fieldwork research aboard the ship, where the tools to collect data and interpret it are provided. Each lesson and activity prepares students for the unique opportunity of taking environmental action measures based on scientific research in their community.
Elementary School Middle School High School
Elementary School Stream Materials
Each Stream is a 5-step process of learning to prepare your students to become the next generation of environmental leaders! Guide your students through this continuum of learning with Clearwater to extend their learning and enthusiasm throughout the school year. Your class will recieve a classroom membership and acheivement patches for each student to acknowledge their accomplishments!
1. Lesson Plans and Hudson River Materials: These lessons are exciting tools intended for teachers to use in the classroom. These activities cover state learning standards and lay the foundations for their hands-on inquiry to come.
Discover the Hudson Slide Show and Teacher Script (Clearwater Lesson)
On the Trail of The Hudson Migratory Fish (DEC Lesson)
Readings on Hudson River Natural History (DEC Lesson)
2. In-Class Program: Eels on Wheels!
The North American Eel has one of the most interesting life cycles in the Hudson River. They are born in the Sargasso Sea off Bermuda and drift with the currents to reside in the Hudson. Students study the eels’ life cycle, complete a mapping exercise of migration and observe live eel specimens.
This program incorporates map skills, math, geography and life sciences with hands-on, interactive activities that help develop a personal connection to our river through close examination of the Estuary’s living species.
3. Sailing Classroom Program:
The center piece of Clearwater’s education Streams are three exciting hours sailing aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater or the Schooner Mystic Whaler. The deck of a traditional sailing ship is a uniquely powerful platform transformed into a scientific laboratory for students to discover the natural wonders of the Hudson River Estuary. Students help raise the sails, navigate the boat, and set and haul in a fishing net. In small groups, they visit learning stations to examine and touch the day’s catch, perform water quality tests, and study plankton.
4. Clearwater Classroom Membership: Clearwater is a member organization and your class will join us in our mission to preserve and protect the Hudson River for the benefit of its eco-system and human communites. You will receive our monthly Topsail Times, Clearwater’s digital newsletter with interesting news and fun updates from our captain and crew to keep your class engaged.
5. Action Activities: Students will turn the knowledge they have gained in the classroom, and on the river, into action to create a positive environmental impact on their local community. These are tools for students to complete in class at the direction of a teacher or individually at home.
What’s Good In My Hood (NYRP Service Learning Booklet: Download your copy)
Congratulations! Each student receives an acheivement patch when they complete the 5-steps of Clearwater’s Science and Inquiry Stream. They are Clearwater’s next generation of environmental leaders!
Middle School Stream Materials:
Each Stream is a 5-step process of learning to prepare your students to become the next generation of environmental leaders! Guide your students through this continuum of learning with Clearwater to extend their learning and enthusiasm throughout the school year. Your class will recieve a classroom membership and acheivement patches for each student to acknowledge their accomplishments!
1. Lesson Plans: These lessons are exciting tools intended for teachers to use in the classroom. These activities cover state learning standards and lay the foundations for their hands-on inquiry to come.
Eco-Choices Lesson (Cary Institute Lesson)
Tivoli Bay Sea Level Rise Climate Simulation Lesson (Cary Institute)
2. In-Class Program: Water Pollution Clean up
In this hands-on activity, students come face to face with the realities of water pollution – where it comes from, where it goes, and what it leaves behind. Students in small groups will clean up a sample of mock-polluted water using simple tools that are analogous to what you find in a water treatment plant. They will assess our treatment strategies and discover how we can pollute less.
3. Sailing Classroom Program:
The center piece of Clearwater’s education Streams are three exciting hours sailing aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater or the Schooner Mystic Whaler.
The deck of a traditional sailing ship is a uniquely powerful platform transformed into a scientific laboratory for students to discover the natural wonders of the Hudson River Estuary. Students help raise the sails, navigate the boat, and set and haul in a fishing net. In small groups, they visit learning stations to examine and touch the day’s catch, perform water quality tests, and study plankton.
4. Clearwater Classroom Membership: Clearwater is a member organization and your class will join us in our mission to preserve and protect the Hudson River for the benefit of its eco-system and human communites.
5. Action Activities: Students will turn the knowledge they have gained in the classroom, and on the river, into action to create a positive environmental impact on their local community. These are tools for students to complete in class at the direction of a teacher or individually at home.
Carbon Calculator for Youth (Our Footprints Our Future)
Action Guide – Give Water a Hand! Teacher Guide (UW Extension lessons)
Congratulations! Each student receives an acheivement patch when they complete the 5-steps of Clearwater’s Science and Inquiry Stream. They are Clearwater’s next generation of environmental leaders!
High School Stream Materials:
Each Stream is a 5-step process of learning to prepare your students to become the next generation of environmental leaders! Guide your students through this continuum of learning with Clearwater to extend their learning and enthusiasm throughout the school year. Your class will recieve a classroom membership and acheivement patches for each student to acknowledge their accomplishments!
1. Lesson Plans: These lessons are exciting tools intended for teachers to use in the classroom. These activities cover state learning standards and lay the foundations for their hands-on inquiry to come.
Changing Hudson Project – Hudson River Ecosystem Unit (Cary Institude Lesson Plans)
Broken Water Cycle (Cary Institute Lesson Plan)
HRECOS (Clearwater Lesson Plan) – Teacher Tutorial
2. In-Class Program: The Science of Water
The Sloop Clearwater is a tool of scientific inquiry! As a mobile water quality monitoring unit in the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System, the vessel streams live water quality data to the classroom. Students perform their own hands-on water chemistry tests, monitor the ship’s live data from their school and create a testable hypothesis about the Hudson River water they will encounter. The data and scientific method come alive as students explore H2O using our interactive online data, wetlab experiments and dynamic education staff.
3. Sailing Classroom Program:
The center piece of Clearwater’s education Streams are three exciting hours sailing aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater or the Schooner Mystic Whaler. The deck of a traditional sailing ship is a uniquely powerful platform transformed into a scientific laboratory for students to discover the natural wonders of the Hudson River Estuary. Students help raise the sails, navigate the boat, and set and haul in a fishing net. In small groups, they visit learning stations to examine and touch the day’s catch, perform water quality tests, and study plankton.
4. Clearwater Classroom Membership: Clearwater is a member organization and your class will join us in our mission to preserve and protect the Hudson River for the benefit of its eco-system and human communites. You will receive our monthly Topsail Times, Clearwater’s digital newsletter with interesting news and fun updates from our captain and crew to keep your class engaged.
5. Action Activities: Students will turn the knowledge they have gained in the classroom, and on the river, into action to create a positive environmental impact on their local community. These are tools for students to complete in class at the direction of a teacher or individually at home.
Carbon Calculator for Youth (Our Footprints Our Future)
Climate Change Youth Action Guide (Taking It Global)
Congratulations! Each student receives an acheivement patch when they complete the 5-steps of Clearwater’s Science and Inquiry Stream. They are Clearwater’s next generation of environmental leaders!